The manager of an optometrist office for nearly 25 years in a Midwestern city has had the privilege of watching the Laskik Eye Surgery era begin and even become common. Optometrists generally handle the post-op care for the recipients of Lasik surgery, so Mary has been able to observe its birth and growing popularity. She remembers first hearing of the procedure and thought it seemed so “cutting edge” that she could barely imagine it becoming widely popular during her career.

Now, in this relatively small, one-doctor practice, which is among scores of optometric facilities throughout the municipality who also care for post-op Lasik surgery patients, every week they get to see happy faces of those who have chosen this elective procedure.

Because it is, in most cases, elective, many insurance companies do not cover the procedure; it is considered “cosmetic” so there can be a great deal of out-of-pocket expense for the patient. Those who opt to have Lasik surgery free themselves of the hassle of glasses and contacts, which are normally quite costly, so weighing one’s options and contemplating the pros and cons of the decision is, of course, a wise place to begin in considering this or any procedure.

It behooves one to give attention specifically to matter of whether or not you even have vision insurance at all, and if you do, are you paying extra from your paycheck to take advantage of it when you need it? If you have vision coverage, calculate how much it is actually saving you per year.

For instance, if your insurance covers $100 dollars toward frames, but you know you are never satisfied with those brands and end up paying another 2 or 3 hundred on top of that to get what you like, is your vision insurance working as it should be for you? If you know you end up putting out large sums of money each year on glasses with extras or contacts, maybe the cost of Lasik surgery won’t seem expensive at all.

People of a broad range of ages have been enjoying the benefits of Lasik surgery, but most commonly, those in their 20s and 30s. Personally, Mary has not seen patients less than eighteen years of age having the Lasik procedure. This may be due to the fact that most doctors agree that youths are still experiencing significant changes and development. While the 25- 35 years-of-age group seems to be the most common for choosing Lasik surgery, it is not uncommon at all to see those in their 40s and 50s still opting for that route. There is good reason that it is not popular for the older ones.

Lasik surgery does not help those with presbyopia, a nearly inescapable condition for the middle-aged where the ability to see objects close up becomes increasingly difficult. Most of us have probably seen people, especially in the 40 to 50 years of age range struggling to read without glasses.

That is most common because many of them have not yet accepted their dependency on reading glasses (as they will normally accept as time goes on) and the Lasik Surgery that works so miraculously for near-sightedness does not affect presbyopia, so as one gets older and has the need for reading glasses, it just isn’t as exciting to be free of the need for glasses so that you can see the far end of a tennis court but you still need to put them to see the ball when it is right in front of you.

As with nearly anything, there is a best time for optimizing certain benefits from most opportunities, and Lasik eye surgery does not fall outside of that realm. You can’t take advantage of it if you are too young. You can’t take the full advantage of it when you are older.

It is a procedure that is being enjoyed by millions every year, though, and it is certainly worth your consideration as something that can make life a little easier; a little more convenient. And, of course, just like anything else, you won’t know until you ask. You may be a great candidate for the Lasik Eye Surgery.